Marin IJ Readers' Forum for Aug. 10

Drake's Bay Oyster Co. is attempting — through political maneuvering and spurious lawsuits — to continue its commercial operation after the National Park Service and three different courts have denied its right to continue to

extract resources from an estuary within a designated Wilderness Area at the

heart of the Point Reyes National Seashore.

Drakes Bay's effort is part of a well-funded national campaign (Pacific Legal Foundation, etc.) to wrest control of public lands for private profit, to commodify the commons.

One of the most environmentally deleterious effects of Drakes Bay's continued presence in Drake's Estero (of many) is the extensive array of oyster racks that provide substrate for the invasive Asian tunicate, Didemnum vexillum. This, in turn, threatens the eelgrass beds that provide the basis of the food web for native invertebrates, fish, waterfowl (especially Brant), and marine mammals.

The foodies who support Drakes Bay toss around the word "sustainable" without fully acknowledging the unsustainable consequences and daily disturbances (motor boats, etc.) that accompany a commercial enterprise within a wildlife sanctuary.

The enabling legislation for the Point Reyes wilderness is quite clear: "maximum protection, restoration, and preservation of the natural environment within the area."

— Jules Evens, Point Reyes Station

Relieved at closure of oyster sales

It is a sigh of relief to see that Mr. Lunny is abiding by his lease and has closed down the Oyster retail operations. Not sure how he misunderstood the deal he made but glad he is moving on.

Now the estero can go back to the wilderness it was intended to be and the American people can enjoy this magical place. Thank you Mr. Salazar for making the right decision.

— Kate Carolan, Inverness

Sad about delay in preschool tax

Sadly, most of the at-risk Marin County middle school students whom I am privileged to tutor have been trying to catch up to their peers from the day that they first started school.

They are unlikely to achieve that end. The disparity in kindergarten preparedness is staggering and these students will suffer the consequences throughout their school years as well as in the job market.

Data clearly shows that preschool makes an enormous difference. Unfortunately, not all Marin children can access this opportunity. The Marin Strong Start coalition has been working diligently to create a ballot measure for a small increase in the sales tax that would provide funding for preschool as well as child-care and health insurance for our disadvantaged.

Sadly, this will be deferred until 2016. This delay will affect another 900-plus students who will enter kindergarten far less prepared than most Marin children. The trajectory of their learning and of their lives is far different given this educational handicap.

I would respectfully disagree with the previously printed opinion that we should "defer any further sales tax increase, leaving room for a true emergency need." If compromising the education of our children and their chance to succeed does not constitute an emergency, one can reasonably ask, "What does?"